The National Commission on Violence Against Women (Komnas Perempuan) has raised concerns about the appointment of Southeast Sulawesi's North Buton Deputy Regent Ramadio as acting regent because of his alleged involvement in a sexual assault case against a minor.

Ramadio was named a suspect in December 2019 for allegedly paying Rp 2 million (US$134.71) to rape a 14-year-old girl. However, he was not detained and prosecutors have yet to bring his case to court even though they claimed that had completed their case against him.

 “We’re worried that he will exercise his power to delay the investigation and trial against him once he is inaugurated as acting regent,” Komnas Perempuan commissioner Siti Aminah Tardi said on Tuesday as quoted by kompas.com.

[RA::Indonesian lawmakers are biggest enablers of nation's rape culture::/academia/2020/07/09/indonesian-lawmakers-are-biggest-enablers-of-nations-rape-culture.html[

She added that justice was not being served as another suspect in the case, a pimp identified as T, had been on trial and sentenced to nine years in prison. T has appealed the verdict with the Supreme Court.

“It’s unfair for the other suspect who had undergone trial,” Siti said.

Komnas Perempuan urged prosecutors and the court to put Ramadio on trial as soon as possible. (dpk)

 

Editor's note: Paragraph one of this article has been edited for accuracy.